Electrostatic air-cooled heat sink

ABSTRACT

An electrostatic air-cooled heat sink has a frame, a power controller, a sharp electrode with a sharp electrode portion, a through-hole, a guide frame, a half-bowl blunt electrode assembly and flow-through portion. The electrostatic air-cooled heat sink features a simple and lightweight structure, making it suitable for mass production and beat radiation with better applicability and industrial benefits.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not applicable. REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a heat sink, and more particularly to an innovative electrostatic air-cooled beat sink.

2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Currently, the common heat sink is operated in a manner wherein a mechanical fan is rotated to generate air flow. for heat radiation, or a heat tube with phase-change working liquid is used for heat radiation. Moreover, electrostatic air is used to generate air flow for heat radiation. According to the operating principle of such a heat sink, one or multiple sharp electrodes (or corona electrodes) and blunt electrodes (or neutral electrodes) are arranged correspondingly on the structure, The electric field generated by said sharp and blunt electrodes will lead to crash of a part of air flow dose to the sharp electrodes, which is generally referred to as corona discharge. In case of a corona discharge, ions may be generated and attracted to the blunt electrodes. In this process, the collision of the icons and neutral air molecules will generate air flow similar to that caused by a mechanical fan, so heat radiation effect could be yielded through channeling of air flow. Improvement of the present invention is thus made on such an electrostatic air-cooled heat sink structure.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems oldie prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises: a frame, power controller, sharp electrode with sharp electrode portion, through-hole, guide frame, half-howl blunt electrode assembly and flow-through portion, the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink features simple and lightweight structure, making it suitable for mass production and beat radiation with better applicability and industrial benefits.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an assembled sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another assembled sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-5 depict preferred embodiments of the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink of the present invention, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective for patent claims.

Said electrostatic air-cooled heat sink A includes a frame 10, made of solid insulating materials (e.g. plastics) to form a hollow framework, comprising of a first opening 11, a second opening 12 and a holding space 13 located between the first opening 11 and second opening 12.

A power controller 20 is assembled onto the frame 10 for controlling the power supply state.

A sharp electrode 30 is made of conducting materials and integrally located at the first opening 11 of the frame 10. Said sharp electrode 30 is provided with at least a sharp electrode portion 31, which is folded and protruded towards the holding space 13. A first power feed portion 32 is set on the sharp electrode 30 and electrically connected with the power controller 20.

At least one through-hole 33 is formed correspondingly to the sharp electrode portions 31 of the sharp electrode 30. Ribs 34 are formed at periphery of said through-hole 33.

A guide frame 40 is assembled into the holding space 13 of the frame 10. Made of conducting materials, the guide frame 40 is provided with guide plates 41 arranged at interval. A guide channel 42 is formed between the guide plates 41, and both ends of the guide channels 42 are oriented separately towards the first opening 11 and second opening 12 of the frame 10. One end of the guide channel 42 facing the first opening 11 is located opposite to the sharp electrode portion 31 of the sharp electrode 30. Moreover, insulating configuration between the guide frame 40 and sharp electrode 30 is required. Besides, a second power feed portion 43 is set onto the guide frame 40 (only marked in FIG. 2) and electrically connected with the power controller 20.

A half-howl blunt electrode assembly 50 is set onto the guide plate 41 of the guide frame 40 in a manner that at least a half-bowl blunt electrode unit 51 is integrally formed at one end of the guide plate 41 facing the first opening 11, and the other half-bowl blunt electrode unit 52 is formed correspondingly to the guide plate 41. So, said half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50 consist of these two half-bowl blunt electrode units 51, 52 set at interval.

A flow-through portion 53 is formed by a space set between two half-bowl blunt electrode units 51, 52. Said flow-through portion 53 must be connected with the guide channel 42 between the guide plates 41 as well as the through-hole 33 formed by the sharp electrode 30.

Of which, the end of the sharp electrode portion 31 formed by the sharp electrode 30 is located correspondingly to the center of the half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50, and a spacing is kept between two half-bowl blunt electrode units 51, 52 (indicated by arrow L1 in FIG. 5).

Of which, the first power feed portion 32 on the sharp electrode 30 and the second power feed portion 43 on the guide frame 40 are of a flanged pattern, and also protruded laterally at opposite position (e.g. left and tight sides).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sharp electrode 30 is made of metal plate, and sharp electrode portion 31 is made of a triangular plate formed by partially punching into a folding pattern. Besides, the sharp electrode is of a plate-like metal mesh pattern, and the sharp electrode portion is of a spike structure formed by folding of the metal mesh unit (note: drawing omitted hereto).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the through-holes 33 formed by the sharp electrode 30 are of a square or rectangular pattern, while the ribs 34 are of a pigsty or mesh pattern.

Of which, the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink A is arranged dose to an existing heating source (e.g. CPU) or thermal conductive device (e.g. soaking plate and heat tube), so as to yield air exhaust and heat radiation effect without need of exhaust fan.

Based on above-specified structural design, the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink A of the present invention is operated as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the sharp electrode portion 31 of sharp electrode 30 and half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50 on the guide plate 41 of the guide frame 40 are in an energized state with the help of power controller 20. In such a case, the electric field generated by the sharp electrode portion 31 and half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50 will lead to crash of some air close to the sharp electrode portion 31 (indicated by arrow L2). The electric discharge will generate ions, which will be absorbed to the blunt electrodes (indicated by arrow L3). In this process, air flow will be generated by the collision between ions and neutral air molecules similar to the effect of mechanical fan (indicated by arrow L4). Then, the air flow can be discharged along the guide channel 42 formed between the guide plates 41 of the guide flame 40. When air in the guide channel 42 is discharged, a suction force will be generated. In such a case, the through-hole 33 opened on the sharp electrode 30 can absorb external air into the guide channel 42 (indicated by arrow L5), bringing about air discharge and heat radiation effect (note: either the electric discharge or air flow state is indicated by arrow in FIG. 5, but in fact either one is operated simultaneously). Hence, if the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink A of the present invention is installed onto the wall of an equipment requiring for heat radiation, a cooling structure without mechanical fan and heat tube could be realized. As compared with prior art, the sharp electrode 30 of the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink of the present invention could be made by punching of individual metal plates or by metal meshes. Moreover, the guide frame 40, guide plate 41, half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50 and flow-through portion 53 can be fabricated rapidly by folding, punching and welding of the metal plates, while the frame 10 can be made rapidly by injection molding of plastics. It is thus learnt that, the electrostatic air-cooled heat sink A of the present invention of a simple structure is particularly suitable for mass production and cost reduction, and the plate-like structure is of a satisfactory lightweight structure. As for the guided air exhaust effect, since the half-bowl blunt electrode assembly 50 is directly assembled onto the guide plate 41 of the guide frame 40, the flow-through portion 53 formed by the space between two half-bowl blunt electrode units 51, 52 is connected to the guide channel 42 between the guide plates 41 as well as the through-hole 33 formed by the sharp electrode 30. Hence, air flow channel is straight and smooth, and air flow can reach optimum efficiency and flow status for better heat radiation effect. 

1. An electrostatic air-cooled heat sink comprising: a frame, made of solid insulating materials to form a hollow framework, comprising of a first opening, a second opening, and a holding space located between the first and second openings; a power controller, assembled onto the frame for controlling the power supply state; a sharp electrode (corona electrode), made of conducting materials and integrally located at the first opening of the frame; said sharp electrode is provided with at least a sharp electrode portion, which is folded and protruded towards the holding space; a first power feed portion is set on the sharp electrode and electrically connected with the power controller; at least a through-hole, formed correspondingly to the sharp electrode portions of the sharp electrode; and ribs are formed at periphery of said through-hole; a guide frame, assembled into the holding space of the frame; made of conducting materials, the guide frame is provided with guide plates arranged at interval; a guide channel is formed between the guide plates, and both ends of the guide channels are oriented separately towards the first and second openings; one end of the guide channel facing the first opening is located opposite to the sharp electrode portion of the sharp electrode; insulating configuration between the guide frame and sharp electrode is required; a second power feed portion is set onto the guide frame and electrically connected with the power controller; a half-bowl blunt electrode assembly, set onto the guide plate of the guide frame in a manner that at least a half-bowl blunt electrode unit is integrally formed at one end of the guide plate facing the first opening, and the other half-bowl blunt electrode unit is formed correspondingly to the guide plate; so said half-bowl blunt electrode assembly comprise of these two half-bowl blunt electrode units set at interval; a flow-through portion, formed by a space set between two half-bowl blunt electrode units; and said flow-through portion must be connected with the guide channel between the guide plates as well as the through-hole formed by the sharp electrode; of which, the end of the sharp electrode portion formed by the sharp electrode is located correspondingly to the center of the half-bowl blunt electrode assembly, and a spacing is kept between two half-bowl blunt electrode units.
 2. The device defined, in claim 1, wherein said sharp electrode is made of a metal plate, and the sharp electrode portion is made of a triangular plate formed by partially punching into a folding pattern.
 3. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said sharp electrode is of a plate-like metal mesh pattern, and the sharp electrode portion is of a spike structure formed by folding of the metal mesh unit.
 4. The device defined in claim 2, wherein the through-holes formed by the sharp electrode are of a square or rectangular pattern, while the ribs are of a pigsty or mesh pattern.
 5. The device defined in claim 4, wherein the first power feed portion on the sharp electrode and the second power feed portion on the guide frame are of a flanged pattern, and also protruded laterally at opposite position.
 6. The device defined in claim 5, wherein said electrostatic air-cooled heat sink is arranged close to an existing heating source or thermal conductive device, so as to yield air exhaust and heat radiation effect without need of exhaust fan. 